BRPI0611732A2 - hinged lid aroma package - Google Patents

Abstract

A hinge lid pack has a lower pack outerframe and an upper lid hingedly attached to the lower pack outerframe for movement between opened and closed positions. The lid includes front, top, back and opposite sidewall portions. An innerframe is within and upwardly extends from the outerframe, and the innerframe has front and opposite sidewall portions. Microencapsulated aroma surfaces on the pack move across roughened perforations on the pack upon opening of the pack to thereby release flavor by rupturing the microcapsules.

Description

Report of the Invention Patent for "ARTICULATED COVER AROMA PACKAGE".

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a jointed lid aroma package and, more particularly, a package having irregular perforated aroma area areas that rub through the aroma areas when the hinged lid is opened to thereby release aroma to the consumer.

Microencapsulation is a process by which a core material is captured within a second material or wrapper. It is well known in the field to encapsulate aromas and smells in wrappers of various sizes, so that the smell is preserved until the capsule ruptures by mechanical or other force. The preservation of the smell within the capsule ensures that, upon release, the smell is as consistently strong as when it was first encapsulated. "Smell", "fragrance" "aroma" and thermosimilars are used interchangeably herein to indicate any substance that is capable of causing an olfactory sensation.

There are a plurality of processes for manufacturing microcapsules. A variety of techniques can be used to produce microcapsules of various sizes, different breaking strengths and alternative capsule compositions and capsule constituents. Several different encapsulation processes are disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos. 3,516,846; 3,516,941; 3,778,383; 4,087,376; Nos. 4,089,802; 4,100,103 and 4,251,386 and British Patent Reports No. 1,156,725; 2,041,319 and 2,048,206. Common wrapper formations include the urea and formaldehyde polymerization reaction and the polycondensation of methylated urea and aldehyde.

One way for an aroma release package is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 6,612,429 where encapsulated aroma areas inside the lid are contacted by retention cut or fins projecting laterally into the internal structure when the package is opened to thus, releasing aroma by breaking the microencapsulated aroma in those areas.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Among the objects of the present invention is the provision of a hinged lid aroma package which releases a pleasant aroma to the consumer upon opening the package.

It is another object of the invention that the aroma be preserved against degradation until it is released upon opening of the package.

The objects of the invention are achieved by incorporating flavourants into microcapsules or similar materials of encapsulating flavors. Encapsulated flavorings are adhered to the interior surfaces of the package so that the flavoring is released with the open hinged lid package. The placement of the encapsulated flavorings is determined by consideration of frictional contact between the particular surfaces of the package. The flavoring is released through the frit contact of the materials encapsulated in the package with other structural elements of the package.

All of the objectives outlined above are to be understood as examples only and many more objects of the invention can be achieved from the exposition here. Therefore, no limitless interpretation of the objectives cited should be understood without further reading the entire report and drawings included herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

New aspects and advantages of the present invention beyond those cited above will become apparent to persons of ordinary skill in the art from reading the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts and to the like. what:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a hinged lid aroma package with the lid open illustrating aroma coated areas and perforated panels in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the aroma packs shown in Figure 1 with the lid closed and portions of the package partially broken to illustrate interior details;

Figure 3 is a front elevational view of the hinged lid aroma package of Figures 1 and 2 with the lid open and portions of the package partially broken to illustrate a coated flavored area and a cooperating perforated panel;

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view similar to Fig. 3 with a partially closed lid illustrating the perforated panel inside the lid rubbing against the coated aroma area;

Figure 5 is a top plan view of rough cardboard to form the flavored package shown in Figures 1 to 4;

Figure 6 is a side elevational view of a hinged lid frame package with the panel perforated in the inner frame and the flavored area coated within the lid; and

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a continuous roll of material from which individual segments are cut to form the internal structure of the flavor package of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring more particularly to the drawings, Figures 1-4 illustrate a hinged lid aroma package 10 for packaging cigarettes, for example according to the present invention and Figure 5 shows a blank 12 for producing the aroma package.

The blank 12 is folded into a packet form and glued as is well known in the art. Package 10 also includes an inner frame 14 and a roll of such inner frames is shown in figure 7.

Referring to Figure 5, a blank 12 is made of paper or other paper stock, as is well known, and comprises an outer body or frame forming portion 16, including a front panel 18 and a rear panel 20 integrally. connected together by a bottom panel 22. A right side panel 24 and a left side panel 26 are integrally connected to the front panel and a right side panel 28 and a left side panel 30 are integrally connected to the rear panel as shown. Dust bottom fins 31 are connected to the right and left side panels 28, 30.

The blank 12 also has a lid forming portion 32, including a rear panel 34 and a front panel, integrally connected by a top panel 38. The lid forming portion 32 also includes a reinforcement panel 40 which, when bent inverted seaboard against front panel 36. Cover forming portion front panel 36 includes a right side panel 42 and a left side panel44 integrally connected to the front panel 36 of the lid forming portion.

The left and right side panels 46, 48, respectively, are integrally connected to the rear panel 34 of the lid forming portion 32. Dust vanes 50, 52 for the lid, adjacent to the side panels 46, 48, function to closing the edges between the top panel 38 and the side panels of the lid forming portion. Dust fins also reinforce the top 38 of the lid.

An appropriate 45e or other angle cut line extends between the side panels 28, 30 of the body forming portion 16 and the side panels 46, 48 of the lid forming portion 32. The cut lines 54 fuse into one another. a pivot line 56 between the body forming portion and around which the lid of the assembled cigarette package hinges relative to the package body. The cut lines 54 allow this joint to occur.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1-5, the right and left side panels 46, 48 of the lid forming portion 32 each include a plurality of backward-facing perforations 60 of these panels. The front of each side panel 46, 48, as shown in Figure 5, has an uneven surface that rubs through the aroma-coated areas of the lid to release aroma upon opening of the package 10, as explained more fully below.

As noted above, each package 10 includes an inner frame 14 comprising a front panel 62 and left and right side panels 64, 66 positioned within the body-forming portion 16 of the pack. The outer surface of the inner frame panels 64, 66 each includes an aroma coating 68 of microencapsulated flavoring substances, as explained throughout the report. As a result, when an assembled package is initially opened, the perforations60 in each side panel 46, 48 of the lid forming portion 32 each have an uneven surface that rubs against the flavored coatings. 68 on the outside of the inner structure side panels to thereby break the microencapsulated material and release flavor to the consumer. Then, when the package is closed and reopened, aroma release continues, but to a lesser extent.

The stiffening panel 40 of the lid forming portion 32 of the pack 10 also includes a number of scented coating areas 70 on the exposed surface of the panel 40 when viewed from the inside of the lid. Panel 40 fits front panel 36, which positions the rim-coated areas 70 within the cover behind the front panel. The upper edge portions 72 on the front panel 62 of the inner frame 14 rub against the aroma panels when the package is opened, thereby releasing the odor to the consumer by disrupting the microencapsulated aroma substances.

Fig. 6 illustrates an alternative embodiment similar to the package of Figs 1-5, but the package 10 'shown in Fig. 6 includes perforations46 on the outer surfaces of the side panels 64, 66 of the inner frame14. Flavored coatings 68 are provided on the inner surface right and left side panels 46, 48 of the lid forming portion 32. As a result, when the package 10 is opened, the irregular perforated surface on the inner structure rubs through the inner-flavored coatings. the lid to release the encapsulated flavorings. Also, the front panel 62 of the inner frame includes outwardly extending retention sections 74, which rub through the inner flavored surface 68 on the lid panels 46, 48 to aid in encapsulated flavoring breakage. Retention cuts usually work to keep the lid closed, but in the present case they also work to break the microcapsules to release the aroma.

Microcapsules containing a flavor of choice are manufactured and may be obtained commercially from companies such as Arcade, Inc., Chattanooga, Tenn. Examples of potential encapsulation flavors include peppermint and roasted / toasted flavors. However, almost any aromatic oil can be encapsulated as long as it meets certain basic technology requirements as having hydrophobic qualities. A polyoxymethylene urea polymer solution can be used to coat the aromatic oils and produce the microcapsules after polymerization. The microcapsules may be in the size range of about 10 micrometers to about 40 micrometers in diameter. Microcapsules can be obtained as a wet cake that can be combined with water to produce a weak "paint" paste. Solvents are not used in combination as a cake as they can dissolve the polymer wrap surrounding the microencapsulated aroma. A variety of concentrations will result in a poor usable ink mix depending on printing conditions and processes. For example, a concentration of 50% to 60% of the wet cake produces ink of consistency usable for gravure printing systems. In passages of the gravure printing press, 40 kilograms of ink at a 50% dilution concentration can produce enough ink to print approximately one million open flip boxes. Canvas printing processes can also be used with microencapsulation inks.

Thereby, a hinged lid package is provided which is strategically coated with microencapped aromatic oil paint such that frictional contact between a coated surface and other surfaces of the package occurs upon opening by the consumer. The friction contact breaks the microcapsules releasing a fragrance aroma to the consumer. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention may be practiced by anything other than the embodiments described, which are presented by way of illustration and not limitation, and the present invention is limited only by the following claims. Given, above all, clarity of understanding and no unnecessary limitation should be understood therefor, modifications will become obvious to those skilled in the art upon reading this disclosure and may be departed from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (4)

1. Hinged lid package comprising a lower outer package structure and an upper lid hingedly hinged to the lower outer structure for movement between open and closed positions, the lid including front, top, rear and o-side side wall portions; an inner structure within and extending upwardly from the lower outer package structure, the inner structure having opposite and front sidewall portions, microencapsulated aroma surfaces outside the opposite sidewall portions of the inner structure and uneven interior perforations opposite sidewall portions of the lid, whereby the microencapsulated aroma surfaces are broken by irregular piercings with the lid opening to thereby release aroma from that opening. Hinged lid pack according to claim 1, further including a microencapsulated wire surface within the lid front wall and upper edge portions of the front wall of the inner frame constructed and arranged to engage the inside of the lid face when The package is opened to break the microencapsulated aroma coating and release aroma with this opening. 3. A hinged lid package comprising a lower outer package structure and an upper lid pivotally attached to the lower outer structure for movement between open and closed positions, the lid including front, top, rear and o-side side wall portions; an inner structure within and extending upwardly from the lower outer package structure, the inner structure having opposite and front sidewall portions, microencapsulated aroma surfaces in the interposed opposite sidewall portions of the lid, and irregular perforations on the outside of the outer portions. opposing side walls of the inner structure, whereby the microencapsulated aroma surfaces are broken by the irregular perforations with the lid opening to thereby release aroma with that opening. Hinged lid package according to claim 3, further including a microencapsulated wire surface within the lid front wall and upper edge portions of the front wall of the inner frame constructed and arranged to engage the inside of the lid face when The package is opened to break the microencapsulated aroma coating and release aroma with this opening.